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Sweden investigates possible breach of Baltic Sea cable

By AAP Newswire

Feb 21, 2025

Sweden's coastguard patrol the Baltic Sea — Sweden's coastguard is investigating possible damage to undersea cables off the island of Gotland. -AP

Sweden is investigating a possible breach of an undersea cable off the country's southwestern coast in the Baltic Sea, the coastguard says, in an area where multiple seabed cables have been damaged in recent months.

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The Baltic Sea region is on alert and the NATO alliance has boosted its presence after a series of power cable, telecom and gas pipeline outages since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Most were caused by civilian ships dragging their anchors.

"We have received information about a suspected cable breach and the prosecution service has chosen to start a preliminary investigation," a coastguard spokesperson told Reuters.

A coastguard vessel has been sent to the scene off the island of Gotland, the spokesperson added.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the government was being briefed and that damage to any undersea infrastructure was particularly concerning amid the current security situation.

It was not immediately clear which type of cable was involved or when the possible damage had taken place.

The coastguard declined to comment further.Â

Last month, NATO launched its new Baltic Sentry mission, after several cables under the Baltic Sea were damaged or severed in 2024.

Finnish police said late last year they were investigating whether a Russian ship was involved in the sabotage of an electricity cable running between Finland and Estonia.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press